Figurines of the Sicilian nativity scene

Handmade Product

Andreas Praefcke

The ancient art of figurines, that is of the ancient artisans who made nativity figurines, is very widespread in Sicily.
The widespread custom in Sicily of celebrating Christmas with the crib led the Sicilian masters to create for churches and residences of the rich bourgeoisie of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries individual shepherds or nativity compositions of various sizes, with the same materials with which they used to create small sculptures and votive statuettes.
Today the nativity figurines are small works of art that tell the history and traditions of Sicily. The nativity statues can be made of different materials, depending on the local tradition, but they are all made entirely by hand.